The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development has launched a project that is aimed at ending gender-based violence in Kano State.
The project is tagged “Core support for scaling up the side-by-side movement”.
Addressing stakeholders at a town hall meeting in Kano, the Centre’s Director of Development, Dr. Margret Fagboyo, explained the meeting intended to mobilizing the support of revered Religious and Traditional Leaders towards implementing the new project.
Fagboyo hinted that the incidence of gender-based violence has been on the increase globally since the advent of COVID-19, and lamented the abuse and maltreatment of female gender remained unabated.
The director said worrisome enough was the direct impact of GBV which is now manifesting in physical, psychological, social, and health effects. He added that consequently upon the emotional torture, victims are presently found under depression, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, and physical injuries owing to the trauma.
She emphasized that “Side-by-Side Movement campaign” will focus on gender justice, a global initiative that unites individuals and organizations from various faiths and communities, all committed to promoting gender justice and eliminating gender-based discrimination in our society
According to her, “Recent reports on the Womanity Index Ranking 2023 by Invictus Africa, indicate that Kano State is one of the States in RED in terms of commitments to preventing and responding to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and creating a safe and inclusive environment against various forms of violence against women and girls.
“Though the State had AMBER ranking based on some efforts made in terms of Access to justice and Support services for victims, it needs to do more. To deal with the menace, a collaborative approach is not only necessary but imperative.
“The collaboration will entail government actors, religious/ traditional leaders, civil society organizations and interested individuals working together to combat the menace. We must therefore rise to the occasion to intensify efforts towards addressing the monster called GBV taking place in our homes, communities, and public places.”
Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA), Bilikisu Ibrahim Sulaimon, expressed concern over failing system of the judiciary and the cumbersome process of accessing justice on cases of GBV.
She pointed how involvement of security usually complicate investigation and prosecution of GBV, such that victims would rather ignore the case after frustration. She called for concerted effort to restructure the process.
The meeting attracted faith based organisations, traditional rulers, civil society groups, professional bodies, security and the media.
